The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-10-27
BLINKEY MORGAN.
Friends of the Beautiful Bird Put
Upon the Stand.
They are Trying to Prove an Alibi for
Coughlin, an Accomplice in the
Horrible Ravenna Tragedy
Sl11h1E1H1A--.-
"Details of the Trial.

Blinkey has became quite aesthetlc,
He seems to have great weakness for
neckwear and now sports white sa l
tie. though he will no doubt sport diff
ferent one, probably one coarser, than
he has ever W IN heretofore. The first
witness called this morning, was Julius
Peck, of Elyria, in order to weaken
Capt. Hoehn's testimony as regards
Identification of the three men
whom he sWearS are Nor
ran, Coughlin and Robinson. The
defense brings up witnesses to show
that COughlin was in Elyrla, ana THIS
shows that he was mistaken in regard
TO Coughlin, and was just as liable to
be mistaken in regard to Morgan. Ju-
ius Peck testified: 81 am afarmer liv-
ing at Brownell, Lorain county; was s
Elyria on the fourth day of Feb
ruary last attending court; took
Inner at the Metropolitan HO-
tel: lust after l had finished
nv dinner / asked for the
proprietor but he was not there. John
Coughlin. who was in the office and
stepped back of the counter, turned the
register around to me; put down my
name and paid him for my dinner; |
shook hands with him." In cross ex-
animation by the State he stated that
he registered at the special request of
Coughlin.
o. Ramsdell testified, II live at Ridge
Vile, Lorain Co.; was at Elyria on the
afternoon of February I'd and took a
neal at Rays Hotel; saw John Cough
lin there at the hotel in the evening;
think l saw him the next day."
A. j. Potter testified, 81 live at Elyria;
I'm engaged in the grocery business
there; Mr.. Ray keeps the Metropolitan
Hotel; Mrs. Ray is a relative of John
Coughlin: John Coughiin made the
purchases of the groceries for the hotel
at my store along the latter part of
January and the first day of February.
Jean Moon testified, 81 live in Elyria;
am housekeeper for man named Ely;
was in Elyria on the morning of Feb
ruary 1st; | went away and returned on
February 4th; the morning when
coming up from the depot saw John
Coughlin in front of Smiths grocery
store; spoke to and shook hands with
him. Mrs. Beebe was with me; Cough
lin and Mrs. Beebe are cousins; they
recognized each other at the same time
and kissed each other"
In cross examination by the State
she stated that she was intimately ac-
quainted with Mrs. Nell Lowrie, the
notorious sporting woman of Cleve-
land. John Moon testified. 81 am a
farmer, living at Carlisle; know John
Goughlin; saw him on the afternoon Of
February 4th in the bar room Of the
Metropolitan Hotel; was in converse
sation with him. In cross exam
ination John Hutchins tore his
testimony into shreads; he admitted he
had been arrested in Cleveland and CON
tradicted himslf a number of times.
Mrs. Kate Ray testified, 81 live in
Elyria and am proprietress of the Met
ropolitan Hotel. John Coughlin is my
cousin, but l have always
treated him as my brother; he
came to my house on the
23rd of last January, after having been
released from the Penitentiary, and
STAYED until the Goth of January; he
then went to Cleveland to visit his
mother; he returned on February LIST;
from the End of February until the
10Th of March, can tell where he was
every day and night; he assist
ed me in the work around the
house and made himself useful gener
ally" Here some letters, written by
Coughlin to Mrs. Ray, were introduced.
The counsel for the de-
fense refused to permit the
counsel for the State to look at them,
and so hot did it becom that L. G.
J Johnson and Judge Hutchins nearly
came to blows.
RAvENNA, o., Oct. 26.-[Special.[ f.
This morning nearly all the seats were
occupied when court opened, and there
was not vacant chair few minutes
afterward. Judge, jury and "Blinkey,"
the prisoner, who wore a new satin tie,
were in their seats at 8 o'clock, and the
defense continued their side of the case.
Julius Peck, farmer, Olney Ramsdell,
a nursery agent, John Moon, of Carlisle,
e. S. Carter, an Elyria coal dealer,
Ethelbert Wilcox and r. w. Hull,
Cleveland travelling men, all testified
to having seen John Coughlin in the
Metropolitan Hotel, at Elyria, owned
by his brother-in-law, Mr.. Ray, the
night of February 4th, when the Raven
ma murder was committed.
Christian Placker, manufacturer of
waters at Elyria, testified:
II know John Coughlin; saw him the
latter part of January and for about
six weeks afterwards. / went to the
hotel on the morning of February
and got drink at the bar and ate
l saw John Coughlin there
on that morning.
James Reed, Deputy Collector of
Customs, at Lorain, testified, 81 saw
John Coughlin in the hotel office of the
Metropolitan Hotel en- the day of Feb
ruary 4th."
John Croft, of Elyria, testified: 81
am painter but was railroading last
winter at Elyria; made my headquar-
ters at the Metropolitan Hotel; to the
best of my knowledge saw John Cough
lin there on the morning of February 4"
1t may appear peculiar that Coughlin
IS being triedby proxy, but the object
)f the defense is to confuse the jury, by
to prove an alibl for Cough |
in, and draw their attention from
Morgan.